raith_rogue (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
raith_rogue) wrote2011-12-12 09:32 pm
raith_rogue) wrote2011-12-12 09:32 pm
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Thomas was much more composed this time when he showed up at Chateau Raith. Going in in a fury would only give Lara that much more of the upper hand. He waited patiently in the outer office, trying to keep his gaze from settling on Justine for too long, though he couldn't avoid looking at her altogether--and most of the time when he did look at her, it was to find her looking back, which was awkward to say the least.
He was almost relieved when Lara buzzed Justine's phone and Justine looked up at Thomas as she said, "Yes, ma'am," into the receiver. "You can go in," she told Thomas quietly. He nodded and rose, composing himself quickly before striding into Lara's office.
"Tommy. What a pleasure," Lara said formally, rising as Thomas entered the room and eased into the chair across from her desk with an arched eyebrow, ignoring her open arms.
"Lara, Lara, Lara. I think you have something of mine," he drawled, skipping the pleasantries and jumping right into the game.
Lara was slightly taken aback by Thomas' calm composure, but she didn't let it show, not even for a second. "Do I? I think that might be a matter up for debate, at this point, brother dear." She smiled a superior smile as she sank into her plush desk chair.
Thomas snorted and rolled his eyes. "Power games? Really? Don't you get enough of that?" he asked, tilting his head and considering her.
"Never," Lara replied with a chuckle. She crossed her legs and leaned back, smiling at Thomas smugly.
He sighed exaggeratedly and leaned back himself. "So what do you intend to do? Have us both call him from across the room and see who he comes to?" he asked, wincing inwardly at the words, but knowing their necessity.
"You know what they say about possession and the law, Tommy love." Lara pursed her lips in mock-sympathy. "And right now I possess the puckling, in every way possible." She smirked and licked her lips. "I must compliment your taste. It's improved." She glanced significantly at her office door, clearly referring to Justine.
Thomas fumed, but he did his best not to give any outward indication of it. "What's your endgame, Lara? I have a busy schedule, and I'd really rather wrap this up."
Lara tapped a fingernail against her bottom lip, looking thoughtful. "I suppose I might be convinced to share--if you made it worth it."
Thomas took a deep breath, his heart pounding in his throat. Part of him was actually enjoying this, and he hated himself a little for that. "And what is the worth of a puck to you, sis?"
Lara smirked at him again. "What is the worth to you, Tommy?"
Thomas waved a hand dismissively. "I'll help you with your little Malvora problem," he suggested airily.
"I should hope family loyalty would see to that," Lara replied, a little sharply.
Thomas gave an exaggerated roll of his eyes. "What else could you want? Gods know you don't need money. You have plenty of protection." He gave her a tight smile and bent over her desk to tug playfully at a lock of hair that had escaped the upswept style she was sporting today. "Free haircut?"
Lara jerked her head away slightly, giving Thomas a scornful look. "No, but that does bring me to my counter-offer. Why don't you give up all of this silly play-acting. Stop living among the herds and return to your rightful place here. You know you'd be safe now."
"I like my independence, Lara," Thomas replied calmly.
"Mmm, but if you return to the chateau, you would have access to your little pet. I have no intention of letting him go." Lara smiled sweetly at him.
And Thomas had no intention of leaving Robin in Lara's control, but he was biding his time, not wanting to show his hand too soon. If he had to, he'd make the ultimate threat, but it wasn't the way the White Court worked, and Lara would lose some respect for him if he did. Not that he cared, but tactically, if there was a better way to get what he wanted he should take it. "Let me think about it. And of course, I want to see him. Make sure he's still worth your asking price."
Lara looked at Thomas, eyes narrowed. "...All right. We'll go together." She rose and came around the desk, offering her arm to her brother.
Thomas steeled himself and slipped his arm into Lara's, walking out of the office together. They strode past Justine, Thomas' gaze flitting to her, revealing some of the tension he was keeping bottled up. Justine sat up a little straighter, ready if Thomas needed her.
They made their way to the room where Robin was being kept and Lara waved the guards away, unlocking the bolts and preceding Thomas into the room.
Thomas slipped a shoe off and left it in the door, blocking it from closing all the way, with a steely gaze when one of the guards seemed about to protest. Lara just glanced back and rolled her eyes, and the guard relented when his mistress had no objection.
Thomas stepped into the room, breath held as he looked toward the bed.
He was almost relieved when Lara buzzed Justine's phone and Justine looked up at Thomas as she said, "Yes, ma'am," into the receiver. "You can go in," she told Thomas quietly. He nodded and rose, composing himself quickly before striding into Lara's office.
"Tommy. What a pleasure," Lara said formally, rising as Thomas entered the room and eased into the chair across from her desk with an arched eyebrow, ignoring her open arms.
"Lara, Lara, Lara. I think you have something of mine," he drawled, skipping the pleasantries and jumping right into the game.
Lara was slightly taken aback by Thomas' calm composure, but she didn't let it show, not even for a second. "Do I? I think that might be a matter up for debate, at this point, brother dear." She smiled a superior smile as she sank into her plush desk chair.
Thomas snorted and rolled his eyes. "Power games? Really? Don't you get enough of that?" he asked, tilting his head and considering her.
"Never," Lara replied with a chuckle. She crossed her legs and leaned back, smiling at Thomas smugly.
He sighed exaggeratedly and leaned back himself. "So what do you intend to do? Have us both call him from across the room and see who he comes to?" he asked, wincing inwardly at the words, but knowing their necessity.
"You know what they say about possession and the law, Tommy love." Lara pursed her lips in mock-sympathy. "And right now I possess the puckling, in every way possible." She smirked and licked her lips. "I must compliment your taste. It's improved." She glanced significantly at her office door, clearly referring to Justine.
Thomas fumed, but he did his best not to give any outward indication of it. "What's your endgame, Lara? I have a busy schedule, and I'd really rather wrap this up."
Lara tapped a fingernail against her bottom lip, looking thoughtful. "I suppose I might be convinced to share--if you made it worth it."
Thomas took a deep breath, his heart pounding in his throat. Part of him was actually enjoying this, and he hated himself a little for that. "And what is the worth of a puck to you, sis?"
Lara smirked at him again. "What is the worth to you, Tommy?"
Thomas waved a hand dismissively. "I'll help you with your little Malvora problem," he suggested airily.
"I should hope family loyalty would see to that," Lara replied, a little sharply.
Thomas gave an exaggerated roll of his eyes. "What else could you want? Gods know you don't need money. You have plenty of protection." He gave her a tight smile and bent over her desk to tug playfully at a lock of hair that had escaped the upswept style she was sporting today. "Free haircut?"
Lara jerked her head away slightly, giving Thomas a scornful look. "No, but that does bring me to my counter-offer. Why don't you give up all of this silly play-acting. Stop living among the herds and return to your rightful place here. You know you'd be safe now."
"I like my independence, Lara," Thomas replied calmly.
"Mmm, but if you return to the chateau, you would have access to your little pet. I have no intention of letting him go." Lara smiled sweetly at him.
And Thomas had no intention of leaving Robin in Lara's control, but he was biding his time, not wanting to show his hand too soon. If he had to, he'd make the ultimate threat, but it wasn't the way the White Court worked, and Lara would lose some respect for him if he did. Not that he cared, but tactically, if there was a better way to get what he wanted he should take it. "Let me think about it. And of course, I want to see him. Make sure he's still worth your asking price."
Lara looked at Thomas, eyes narrowed. "...All right. We'll go together." She rose and came around the desk, offering her arm to her brother.
Thomas steeled himself and slipped his arm into Lara's, walking out of the office together. They strode past Justine, Thomas' gaze flitting to her, revealing some of the tension he was keeping bottled up. Justine sat up a little straighter, ready if Thomas needed her.
They made their way to the room where Robin was being kept and Lara waved the guards away, unlocking the bolts and preceding Thomas into the room.
Thomas slipped a shoe off and left it in the door, blocking it from closing all the way, with a steely gaze when one of the guards seemed about to protest. Lara just glanced back and rolled her eyes, and the guard relented when his mistress had no objection.
Thomas stepped into the room, breath held as he looked toward the bed.